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Radiofrequency Dennervation
What is it?
Radiofrequency denervation is a specialised injection, which uses heat to alter the function of the nerves that supply the facet joints. These nerves transmit the pain signals from your back to your brain, thus the interruption of this signal should help reduce pain that originates from those joints.
Procedure
Firstly, patients have to respond to a test injection (medial branch block), which is very similar to a facet joint injection but with local anaesthetic only and the needle is placed over the nerve supply to the joint. If a patient experiences significant but short lived pain relief, then they may be eligible for dennervation treatment.
Radiofrequency denervation is a quick day case procedure performed under sedation. We therefore ask patients to refrain from eating or drinking anything for 6 hours prior to the injection. Water however is allowed up to 2 hours before admission. We also ask that someone brings the patient home.
Patients lie on their front and a cannula isinserted into their hand to facilitate the sedation. Once sedated, the needles are positioned under x-ray guidance. The needle tips heat up to a degree so that the functioning of the nerves are altered. Patients leave the hospital the same day.
Follow up
Typically, a routine follow-up appointment is made for 4-6 weeks after the first test injection and patients are asked whether they experienced any initial pain relief . If so, then consideration would be given to progressing to radiofrequency denervation. Following this latter procedure, a routine follow-up is made at 6 weeks to assess the outcome.